Bible Strands
Isaiah 19:14
The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Isaiah pronounces judgment on Egypt immediately after describing the deception of its princes and tribal leaders. The oracle records Yahweh’s direct intervention in the nation’s political and spiritual affairs.
The words — The Hebrew verb מָסַךְ (ma.Sakh) literally means "he has mixed" or "poured," describing Yahweh's action of infusing a spirit of עִוְעִים ('iv.'Im), meaning "confusion," into Egypt's midst. This divine mixing directly causes the nation to be misled (הִתְעוּ, hit.'U) in all its actions.
The thread — The motif of God actively infusing confusion or delusion appears in 1 Kings 22:20 and 2 Thessalonians 2:11, where Yahweh sends deception to those who oppose His purposes, while Ezekiel 14:7 records God giving over idolaters to similar delusion.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that national collapse begins with divine withdrawal and active judicial confusion. It requires readers to acknowledge that human leadership fails when God sovereignly removes the capacity for clear judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 22:20 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.
- Ezekiel 14:7 For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,
- Job 12:25 They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
- Isaiah 47:10 You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’
- Jeremiah 25:27 “Then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Drink, get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, because of the sword I will send among you.’
- Job 12:16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
- Isaiah 19:2 “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
- Isaiah 28:7 These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
- Isaiah 29:9 Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink.